From Zombos' Closet

The Glass Eye (1956) Mexican Lobby Card

El Ojo Cristal (The Glass Eye) is a Spanish produced noir movie based on Cornell Woolrich's Through a Dead Man's Eye short story. This Mexican lobby card captures the thriller and noir aspects very well.

La Extrana Pasajera (1953) Mexican Lobby Card

A strong, yet simple, use of a skull illustration, a question mark, and racing night-time trains, all on a blue background, give this Mexican lobby card for La Extraña Pasajera a strong air of mystery and murder.

El Camino De Los Espantos (1967) Mexican Lobby Card

This is the last team-up movie for  Capulina  (Gaspar Henaine Pérez ) and Viruta (Marco Antonio Campos). They were similar to Laurel and Hardy in their physical makeup, but their characters were somewhat different in their comedy dynamic. IMDb notes the two weren't talking to each other during this movie's filming when not in scene. After they split up, Capulina went on to make 58 movies solo (Wikipedia).

More Stuff in the Closet

House of Dark Shadows

Book Review: Three Stooges FAQ

Mexican Lobby Card: Hercules

Mexican Lobby Card: Chamber of Horrors (1966)

Capulina Contra Los Vampiros (1971) Mexican Lobby Card

Capulina (Gaspar Henaine Pérez), dubbed The King of White Comedy (for his clean and simple humor), would often find himself in not water with vampires, mummies, and monsters.  

Quantum Monstrum: Episode 1 Nothing in the Doorway

Midnight in the darkened Stardust Bijou theater. Time when the popcorn is past soggy, the soda is quite flat, and the people in the front row no longer leave to go to the bathroom. The projector starts, sounding like a werewolf howling at a waning full moon, and the images, flickering across the screen, come alive.

Time for Quantum Monstrum: Episode 1
Nothing in the Doorway

By JM Cozzoli

“No, go to the last elevator,” said detective first grade, John Ligotti, stopping at the concierge desk. The uniformed officer he was talking to nodded and went to the end of the elevator bank and pressed the button. Officer Penny Nichols looked around, taking it all in while she waited for the elevator. She needed a cup of coffee. A large cup. The night was getting late. Or was the morning coming too soon?

“It’s Art Deco, they tell me,” said Ligotti, joining her.

“You mean to tell me this guy has an office here?” she asked, incredulous. “Looks fancy enough to be expensive.”

“No, he doesn’t rent space here,” replied Ligotti.

“Oh, okay, that’s--”

“He owns the building.”

Nichols inhaled a short breath then let it out. “But, the Chrysler Building?”

“Yeah, all of it. I know.”

The elevator door opened. Ligotti stepped in and Nichols followed.

“Press the seven and three buttons together, then press three again. That’s the only way to get to the thirteenth floor,” directed Ligotti in his best Bela Lugosi imitation.

She paused for a second and was about to say something, then shrugged her shoulders and pressed the panel buttons as directed. The elevator doors closed. She was told by the other officers to expect weird, unusual, and never-discuss-it-with-us kinds of things when she accepted Ligotti’s offer to step in for Officer Redshirt. That was not the officer’s real name, but there had been so many officers who wound up in the hospital, the generic name stuck. At least no was dead yet, and that made her acceptance easier. She was getting bored and needed a challenge. She just wondered if this one was the right kind. She liked Detective Ligotti. That biased her decision. He had a lot to like.

When the elevator doors opened, her eyes were greeted by a glass-enclosed, wall-sized, movie theater poster showing King Kong hanging around the Empire State Building.

“I was told that’s an original three sheet poster for the 1933 movie,” said Ligotti.

“Don’t tell me he owns that building, too?”

“Don’t know. I haven’t gotten around to asking him yet. This way.”

Ligotti stepped onto the rich red carpeting in the hallway and turned right. Nichols followed. They walked past various frosted-glass paneled doors, their gilt lettering announcing the various business offices along the hallway. Behind those doors the rooms were dark, except for one at the end of the hallway, on the right. The gold lettering on that door said New York Globe in bold letters. The door was ajar.

They stopped in front of that door. Ligotti was about to knock.

“Come in, John.”

It was a distinctive voice, not too high, not too low, that carried through the heavy oak and thick frosted glass of the door, inviting them in. The detective pushed the door open all the way and he and Nichols entered the office.

“Officer Nichols,” said Ligotti, “let me introduce you to Paul Gothico, the man who helps the New York City Police Department with its more WTF problems.”

Paul Gothico smiled and held out his hand. Nichols didn’t notice it. All her attention was focused on his six feet and four inches height. She was six feet herself but he seemed to tower over her. She was mulling over why she could not tell from his clean shaven complexion what nationality he was or even what race for that matter. That bothered her. His brown hair was cut short and tight. Her gut said he was Italian, but she couldn’t put her finger on why her gut said that. His voice held no trace of an accent she could pinpoint. His vivid green eyes looking at her from above those boardwalk shoulders and mountain of a chest made her more frustrated. She was better than good at sizing up people, but she could not size him up. Not even a little.

“Hang around him long enough,” said Ligotti, “and you’ll understand why his relationship with us is quaintly known as the “Keep It Lost and Don’t Find It Department.”

She inhaled and held it. Held it. Held it. Then let it out slowly. And forgot all about that cup of coffee she needed only a short while ago.

Gothico took Nichols’ hand and shook it, then turned to Ligotti. “You sounded more serious than usual on the phone. What’s up?”

“Something I think even you haven’t seen before. We need to go downtown. If we hustle we can beat the snowstorm.”

“All right. I’ll get my coat.”

Ligotti headed into the hallway while Gothico reached for his tan trench coat that had been tossed onto the worn Chesterfield couch, among the books and magazines littered over its cushions. Her mind still digesting everything without results, her attention had moved to a large painting on the wall directly behind the larger desk standing opposite the door. Spillage from the couch had found its way to that desk, but aside from the books and magazines, there were numerous statues and odd tchotchkes, some reasonably familiar, others not so much, piled on to it. All around the desk, paintings, mezzotints, lithographs, photographs, and movie theater posters, all painstakingly framed, covered the walls almost completely. Were the room alive it would be gasping for air. It did seem alive, Nichols mused. A feeling came to her that she was being watched. Curiouser and curiouser, she joked to herself. Her eyes were pulled back to the painting. There was something about it her finger was aiming to put a fingerprint on.

“That one’s called The First Prayer in Congress,” said Gothico, noting her fascination. Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia, 1774. Jacob Duche, rector of Christ Church graced the assembly with a prayer to open the session. It was a promising time. You can see every man in it is either bowing his head and kneeling or looking up towards heaven seeking spiritual guidance for the great task lying ahead.”

She nodded. “Now I’d think they’d be seeking forgiveness.”

Gothico smiled. “There’s that, too.”

As she looked deeper into the picture, one tall figure stood out among the others. A man who was not kneeling or praying, standing in the background. He looked familiar but shadow covered most of him. She inhaled and held her breath, then glanced at Gothico, then back at the painting. Another intake of air was imminent. If she asked now, she may not like the answer. She did not ask.

Ligotti stepped back into the room and tapped her on the shoulder. “I know. It can wait. Let’s beat that snowstorm.”

She exhaled, hesitated for a second, then nodded and took a step toward the door. Gothico’s hand wrapped firmly around her arm and pulled her back. She looked at him. He likes Old Spice aftershave she noted.

“Wait.” Gothico seemed to be listening. His eyes were staring into the hallway.

Now it was Ligotti’s turn to hold his breath. He knew that tone. They waited.

A rush of cold air and a fragrance of mimosa wafted into the office.

“Don’t move,” said Gothico. “Stay within this room.” They froze and looked through the open door. And waited. The lights in the hallway went out.

The smell of mimosa grew stronger. A rustling, like dried leaves scraping across a sidewalk, could be heard, growing louder as it came towards them.

“Carpeting wouldn’t make that sound,” said Ligotti. “Normally.”

“You won’t need that,” said Gothico to Nichols.

She loosened her grip on her gun holster, but only a little. She would be the judge of what was needed or not.

The sound stopped. The fragrance of mimosa grew overpowering. Nichols brushed the tip of her nose. Her nostrils were starting to burn a little. She noticed Ligotti was brushing his nose, too.

Something unseen thumped hard against the door frame with a loud bang. Ligotti jumped back, but only a step. Nichols instinctively drew her gun and pointed it at nothing she could see through the open doorway. “What the hell is going on?” she said without raising her voice. Gothico admired her composure.

“It can’t get in,” he assured her.

“What can’t get in?” asked Nichols, her voice still composed, if a bit more concerned.

“Whatever’s trying to get in, I’d say,” replied Gothico.

She glanced at Ligotti with a what-have-you-gotten-me-into look. He smiled and nodded. She relaxed a bit, but only a bit.

Another, stronger, thump against the door frame made the room shake that time. Suddenly, the lintel, sill, and jamb of the doorway began glowing with red symbols. Another thump and the symbols increased their intensity in response. Faster and stronger thumps shook the walls, the floor, but the symbols continued to pulsate in response, now alternating their intensity among themselves with every assault. Some even seemed to grow larger, brighter, while others turned shades of gold, yellow, and green.

Then it fell silent. The overpowering burn of mimosa on her nostrils was making Nichol’s eyes water. The glowing symbols went dim and winked once or twice before going out completely. The mimosa subsided. Nichols brushed her nose one last time.

Gothico, seemingly unconcerned, turned his attention to his desk to right a few tchotchkes that had fallen over. He frowned when he saw that many of his prints and paintings would also need straightening.

Nichols holstered her gun and looked at Ligotti. Seeing he was not relaxing his posture too much, she did not either. Another sound could be heard coming down the hallway. It was someone yelling, and it grew louder and more desperate, but still with a quality like it was coming over a great distance.

“That sounds like Pinters voice,” said Ligotti, stepping toward the door.

A hand gripped his arm and held him back. It was Gothico. Nichols did not even see his motion from the desk to Ligotti’s side. She made another mental note: he moves damn fast.

The yelling voice flew past the open door and trailed off into silence.

Ligotti turned to Gothico and Nichols. “I left him with the forensics team at the crime scene at 14 W.10^th Street about an hour ago, to come here and get you,” said Ligotti.

“The House of Death.” It was a statement from Gothico, not a question. He was not happy Ligotti mentioned that address.

Nichols turned to Gothico, saw the look on Ligotti’s face, then decided her first question could wait. She asked her second question instead.

“Did it say what I think I heard it say?” asked Nichols.

“Yes,” said Gothico.

“It’s not a fucking mop,” said Ligotti. “He was yelling ‘it’s not a fucking mop.’”

“Okay, that’s what I thought I heard it say, too” said Nichols.

They turned to Gothico. He shrugged and forced a smile. “Welcome to the Keep It Lost and Don’t Find It Department, Officer Penny Nichols. We better get moving. We’ll talk on the way. It looks like we’re in for one hell of a storm.”

Next Month! Episode 2: The Blasted Thing

Copyright 2016, JM Cozzoli. No rip-offs allowed. Agents, feel free to contact me.

 

Black Magic (1975) Mexican Lobby Card

I believe this is a Mexican lobby card for Jiang Tou, produced by the Shaw Brothers (they did Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires with Hammer Studios). The simplicity, even crudeness of the card is overshadowed by a powerful (albeit humorous, depending on your viewpoint) inset scene. If I had to caption this one I'd say "In your face! No, in your face!" An effective promotional lobby done with minimal artistic effort, this one yells at you to see this movie if only to find out what the hell that thing is he's wielding.

Los Murcielagos (1964) Mexican Lobby Card

I love bats depicted on Mexican lobby cards. This lobby for Los Murcielagos (The Bats) appropriately shows bats. Angry bats. And an inset scene with a woman with long hair that angry bats love to get their tiny feet stuck in. Perfect.

More Stuff in the Closet

Halloween 2014: Target Stores

Halloween Eureka Cat and Bats

Tommy Boy A Zombie Short Story

Monster Times Issue 39 March 1975

Issue 39 of The Monster Times provided fans with ample wall space (like me!) with 12 posters of monsters. And of course this issue helped pad the magazine as it neared its last few issues. Here's the comic book reader version (which makes taping these posters to your wall a bit harder, I know):  Download Monster Times 39

Monster Times Issue 29 December 1973

Lots of good reading in this 29th issue of The Monster Times. House of Frankenstein, From Hell It Came, TMT TV Cartoon Guide (anyone remember the glory days of Saturday morning animated shows?), and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, are covered. In Meet Ms Monster, author Ruth Martin shares her visit to Japan, and in Death is a Way of Life (part 2, I'll have part 1 in issue 28 up soon), a much needed look at death in horror movies is explored. And...David Stidworthy (an alias if I ever saw one!) gives us The Celluloid Snowman, a rundown on Yeti in movies.

Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Monster Times Issue 29

Tarzan's Greatest Challenge (1969) Mexican Lobby Card

Gordon Scott showed the most beefed up hunk of jungle muscle for Tarzan. A bit more chewed up, scarred up, and wild haired look would have completed the picture, but boy did he have biceps to spare. 

Tarzan Triumphs (1943) Mexican Lobby Card

Sure, Lord Greystoke may be swinging through the trees again, but let's not forget all the other movies of jungle action with the brawny King of the Apes.

Chilling Tales of Horror Vol. 2, No. 4 June 1971

More Chilling Tales of Horror for you: more monsters, dead things, and wicked happenings, all in bold black and white. Color would just spoil the gorgeous line art that's neatly paneled across the pages. Of course, this issue's bondage and torture cover is a lot more, umm, spicy and naughty than the actual stories themselves, but hey, monsters and near-naked women sell, sell, sell. Unless you rather see a near naked man on the cover, of course. Hell, I say we put both a near naked man and a near naked woman on the cover, with leering monsters (better make them near naked, too), and cover all the bases. That's marketing, baby. I wonder how many monster kids got a whoopin' from their moms back in 1971 when they saw this issue in the drawer. 

Here's the comic book reader version: just don't let your mom see it.   Download Chilling Tales of Horror v2-4